Net Effect Research Articles

High-quality multimodal MRI with simultaneous EEG using conductive ink and polymer-thick film nets

Objective. Combining magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) provides a powerful tool for investigating brain function at varying spatial and temporal scales. Simultaneous acquisition of both modalities can provide unique information that a single modality alone cannot reveal. However, current simultaneous EEG-fMRI studies are limited to a small set of MRI sequences due to the image quality and safety limitations of commercially available MR-conditional EEG nets. We tested whether the Inknet2, a high-resistance polymer thick film based EEG net that uses conductive ink, could enable the acquisition of a variety of MR image modalities with minimal artifacts by reducing the radiofrequency-shielding caused by traditional MR-conditional nets.Approach. We first performed simulations to model the effect of the EEG nets on the magnetic field and image quality. We then performed phantom scans to test image quality with a conventional copper EEG net, with the new Inknet2, and without any EEG net. Finally, we scanned five human subjects at 3 Tesla (3 T) and three human subjects at 7 Tesla (7 T) with and without the Inknet2 to assess structural and functional MRI image quality.Main results. Across these simulations, phantom scans, and human studies, the Inknet2 induced fewer artifacts than the conventional net and produced image quality similar to scans with no net present.Significance. Our results demonstrate that high-quality structural and functional multimodal imaging across a variety of MRI pulse sequences at both 3 T and 7 T is achievable with an EEG net made with conductive ink and polymer thick film technology.

Positive Outcomes of Supplementation with Lecithin-Based Delivery Formulation of Curcuma longa and Boswellia serrata in IBS Subjects with Small Bowel Dysbiosis

Background: Small bowel dysbiosis (SBD) is a frequent finding in subjects with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The sunflower lecithin (phytosome) formulation of Curcuma longa and Boswellia serrata demonstrated beneficial effects on intestinal microbiota. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a lecithin-based delivery formulation of Curcuma longa and Boswellia serrata extracts (CUBO) on SBD in IBS subjects. Subjects: Forty-nine adult subjects with IBS and SBD were randomly supplemented for 30 days with CUBO and a low-FODMAP diet (LFD) (intervention) or with LFD and placebo (control group). Results: The intervention group showed a significant reduction in urinary indican (p < 0.001), which was the marker of SBD, and of abdominal bloating (p < 0.001) and abdominal pain (p < 0.001). The pre–post control group analysis did not evidence significant differences. The comparison between the two groups (net effect in intervention minus control subjects) showed that the changes differ significantly for urinary indican p < 0.001 (−42.88; 95% CI: −62.04 to −23.72), abdominal bloating p < 0.001 (−1.50; 95% CI: −1.93 to −1.07), and abdominal pain p < 0.001 (−2.37; 95% CI: −3.61 to −1.13) and for the global assessment of efficacy (p < 0.001). The efficacy was 20% greater in males than in females. Conclusions: In IBS subjects, the intervention with CUBO and LFD shows a significantly higher reduction in SBD, abdominal pain, and bloating compared to LFD and placebo. Additional research is needed to confirm these data.

Life Cycle Assessment of an Avocado: Grown in South Africa-Enjoyed in Europe.

Food production is known to have significant environmental impacts, with the main contributors residing in the farming and transportation life cycle phases. Of the various food products transported around the world, avocados have increasingly gained attention as a high-commodity superfood. Avocados require specific climatic and agricultural conditions for farming, with the most fertile land and conditions located outside Europe. Consequently, most avocados consumed in Europe are imported over vast geographical distances, with little information available to quantify the environmental impacts of this imported superfood. This paper aims to present the most detailed life cycle assessment results of an avocado cultivated, grown and harvested in the Limpopo Province of South Africa and exported to the European market for sale and consumption. A life cycle assessment was developed for the farming, harvesting, handling, packaging, ripening, transportation, and carbon sequestration potential of the avocado, and it was used to conduct a holistic life cycle assessment. Input data was obtained through an 18-month data collection campaign across the relevant stakeholders. A baseline 'business-as-usual' scenario is focused on throughout this study, and scope for optimisation is identified for each life cycle phase where applicable, accompanied by uncertainty analyses. Results show a total carbon input of 904.85 kg CO2e/tonne. Mitigating this, 521.88 kg CO2e/tonne is offset, resulting in a net carbon footprint of 382.97 kg CO2e/tonne with uncertainty ranges of -23.22 to +58.69 kg CO2e/tonne, normalised to 57.45 g CO2e/avocado grown in South Africa and sold in Europe. The environmental impacts of the avocado industry under consideration are largely mitigated by the "nature first" philosophy of the farming and logistics enterprises, which have made significant investments in reducing emissions. Sensitivity analyses indicate that implementing large-scale renewable energy, using alternative packaging instead of cardboard, and selling avocados unripened could further enable the farming enterprise to achieve Net Zero objectives. These measures could reduce baseline emissions from 382.97 kg CO2e/tonne to a theoretical -68.54 kg CO2e/tonne, representing a 117.9% decrease. Although this study does not quantify climate change impacts, qualitative analyses suggest that climate change will have a net negative effect on the avocado industry in South Africa. These regions, typically located in micro-climates, are projected to become wetter and warmer, adversely affecting crop phenology, pest control, road conditions, management complexity, farmer livelihoods, and food security. The study recommends large-scale implementation of the optimisation strategies identified to achieve Net Zero objectives and the development of proactive climate change mitigation strategies to enhance the resilience of avocado supply chains to future stressors. These insights are crucial for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and consumers aiming to promote sustainability in the avocado market.

Future Changes in the Vertical Structure of Severe Convective Storm Environments over the U.S. Central Great Plains

Abstract The effect of warming on severe convective storm potential is commonly explained in terms of changes in vertically integrated (“bulk”) environmental parameters, such as CAPE and 0–6-km shear. However, such events are known to depend on the details of the vertical structure of the thermodynamic and kinematic environment that can change independently of these bulk parameters. This work examines how warming may affect the complete vertical structure of these environments for fixed ranges of values of high CAPE and bulk shear, using data over the central Great Plains from two high-performing climate models (CNRM and MPI). To first order, projected changes in the vertical sounding structure are consistent between the two models: the environment warms approximately uniformly with height at constant relative humidity, and the shear profile remains relatively constant. The boundary layer becomes slightly drier (−2% to 6% relative humidity) while the free troposphere becomes slightly moister (+1% to 3%), with a slight increase in moist static energy deficit aloft with stronger magnitude in CNRM. CNRM indicates enhanced low-level shear and storm-relative helicity associated with stronger hodograph curvature in the lowest 2 km, whereas MPI shows near-zero change. Both models strongly underestimate shear below 1 km compared to ERA5, indicating large uncertainty in projecting subtle changes in the low-level flow structure in climate models. The evaluation of the net effect of these modest thermodynamic and kinematic changes on severe convective storm outcomes cannot be ascertained here but could be explored in simulation experiments. Significance Statement Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes cause substantial damage and loss of life each year, which raise concerns about how they may change as the world warms. We typically use a small number of common atmospheric parameters to understand how these localized events may change with climate change. However, climate change may alter the weather patterns that produce these events in ways not captured by these parameters. This work examines how climate change may alter the complete vertical structure of temperature, moisture, and wind and discusses the potential implications of these changes for future severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.

Specific ion effects on the self-assembly and interfacial properties of double- and single-chain cationic amphiphiles

Understanding the specific ion effects (SIE) on the self-assembly of ionic amphiphiles is a key unresolved issue in colloid and interface chemistry. We investigated the SIE on interfacial properties, aggregation behaviours, and interfacial molarities of dioctyldimethylammonium (DiC8X) and tetradecyltrimethylammonium (TTAX) (X = Br, Cl, and Ac) surfactants. Our results demonstrate strong SIE on the aggregation behaviours in both single-chain and double-chain surfactants. The aggregation behaviour depends on the net effect of nonspecific interactions and SIE. Vesicle-micelle transitions are observed exclusively in the double-chained surfactants studied in this work, regardless of their tail symmetry, and are absent in the single-chained surfactants examined. These transitions are counterion-dependent, occurring only with bromide, while the surfactants bearing acetate consistently form vesicles. The chemical trapping (CT) results reveal several key insights on interfacial molarities: 1) double-chain surfactants exhibit higher interfacial water molarity compared to single-chain surfactants, with counterion molarity showing an inverse trend; 2) within both TTAX and DiC8X classes, the interfacial water molarity is highest for surfactants with bromide, followed by chloride, and lowest for acetate; 3) for surfactants undergoing vesicle-micelle transitions, both interfacial water and bromide molarity increase with rising surfactant concentration at low concentration ranges, indicating looser interfacial packing with increasing concentration; and 4) the combined CT and molecular dynamic simulations indicate that acetate penetration into interfacial regions significantly increases with surfactant concentration in TTAAc and DiC8Ac aggregates, explaining the consistent vesicle formation of amphiphiles with acetate. Overall, this study provides critical insights into the delicate balance-of-forces controlling the morphologies of aggregates composed of ionic amphiphiles.

Higher temperature accelerates carbon cycling in a temperate montane forest without decreasing soil carbon stocks

Global warming is expected to accelerate the cycling of soil organic carbon (SOC) and the assimilation of new carbon, but the net effect of those counteracting accelerations and their ultimate effects on SOC are still uncertain. This hinders the prediction of long-term changes in biospheric carbon stocks and SOC-climate feedbacks. Here, we studied the long-term effect of temperature on carbon cycling across a 3.2 °C altitudinal temperature gradient in a temperate forest ecosystem in New Zealand. Across the gradient, soil respiration rates increased with increasing temperature from 9.0 to 10.4 tC ha−1 yr−1, but SOC stocks down to 85 cm depth also tended to increase, from 154 to 176 tC ha−1, albeit non-significantly (P = 0.06). This system was able to maintain higher soil respiration rates at higher temperatures without reducing SOC because the higher respiration rates were sustained by higher litterfall rates. Aboveground litterfall increased from 1.8 to 2.4 tC ha−1 yr−1 and estimated belowground C inputs increased from 7.2 to 8.0 tC ha−1 yr−1 along the temperature gradient. These higher fluxes were associated with significantly (P < 0.05) increased biomass at higher temperatures. As a direct measure of the effect of temperature on carbon cycling processes, we also calculated the turnover rate of forest litter which increased about 1.4-fold across the temperature gradient. This study demonstrates that higher temperatures along the thermal gradient increased plant carbon inputs through enhanced gross primary production, which counteracted SOC losses through temperature-enhanced soil respiration. These results suggest that temperature sensitivities of both plant carbon inputs and SOC losses must be considered for predicting SOC-climate feedbacks.

Comparison between shear-driven and pressure-driven oscillatory flows over ripples

Direct numerical simulations of oscillatory flow over a bed made of ripples have been performed. Two oscillatory flow forcing mechanisms have been compared: (i) a sinusoidal external pressure gradient (pressure-driven flow); and (ii) a sinusoidal velocity boundary conditions on the rippled bed (shear-driven flow). In the second case, the oscillations of the bed are such that when observed from a reference frame fixed with the bed, the free stream follows the same harmonic oscillation as in the pressure-driven case. While the outer layers have the same dynamics in the two cases, close to the bed differences are observed during the cycle, mostly because the large form drag across the ripples cannot be reproduced in the shear-driven case. A comparison against experimental data from an oscillating tray apparatus provides a relatively good agreement for the phase-averaged flow when the same forcing is considered (i.e. a shear-driven flow). The pressure-driven case has a comparable error to the shear-driven numerical results over the crest of the ripples, whereas the discrepancy is larger at the troughs. The discrepancies between the two cases are more limited for time-averaged flow quantities, such as the mean flow pattern and the time-averaged Reynolds stress distribution. This suggests that numerical or experimental shear-driven configurations may capture well the net effects of coastal transport processes (which occur in pressure-driven oscillatory flow), but care should be exercised in interpreting phase-dependent dynamics near the troughs. More work is needed to fully assess the sensitivity to the forcing mechanisms in different flow regimes.

Identifying the policy configurational conditions for off-site construction development: a case of China

PurposeA series of policies have been formulated to promote off-site construction (OSC) development. However, the effectiveness of these policies has yet to be fully explored. This study aims to explore the practical policy configurational conditions for achieving a high level of OSC development.Design/methodology/approachData on policy configurational conditions and the OSC development level were collected from 28 provinces/municipalities in China using text mining. A mixed-method approach was used to conduct data analysis involving text analysis and qualitative comparative analysis (QCA). Text analysis was used to identify current policies with frequencies as independent variables and obtain the proportion of OSC projects in new construction projects as the dependent variable. QCA is employed to analyze the necessary and sufficient conditions of policy conditions for the high-level development of OSC by exploring the complex causal relationships between policy configurational conditions and the OSC development level.FindingsNine policies are obtained from the current policy framework for promoting OSC development using text analysis: industry supports, land policies, presale policies, reputation rewards, regulation controls, tax incentives, floor area rewards, financial subsidies, and loan subsidies. Four policy configurational conditions are identified that can achieve a high development level of OSC: three incentive-driven policy conditions with industry supports, presale policies, tax incentives, and floor area rewards as the core conditions, and one compulsory-driven policy conditions with land policies, financial supports, and loan supports as the core conditions using fuzzy set QCA. Moreover, our study found that a single policy cannot achieve a high level of OSC development as a necessary condition, and the policy configurational conditions that lead to high and nonhigh levels of OSC development are asymmetrical.Research limitations/implicationsThe study did not test the policy’s dynamic effects on the OSC development. A longitudinal study will be conducted to further identify the impact of policy on OSC implementation.Practical implicationsIt provides policymakers with four practical policy configurational conditions to promote OSC development and guides policymakers to optimize effective policies considering the interaction effects of effective policies such as industry supports, presale policies, tax incentives, and floor area rewards instead of their net effects.Originality/valueIt contributes to the existing literature concerning the effects of policy on emerging technology (i.e. OSC) promotion by elucidating configurative effects rather than net effects. Meanwhile, it enriches the research on the antecedent conditions that affect the implementation of other emerging technologies in the architecture engineering and construction industry.

Csk controls leukocyte extravasation via local regulation of Src family kinases and cortactin signaling

C-terminal Src kinase (Csk) targets Src family kinases (SFKs) and thereby inactivates them. We have previously shown that Csk binds to phosphorylated tyrosine 685 of VE-cadherin, an adhesion molecule of major importance for the regulation of endothelial junctions. This tyrosine residue is an SFK target, and its mutation (VE-cadherin-Y685F) inhibits the induction of vascular permeability in various inflammation models. Nevertheless, surprisingly, it increases leukocyte extravasation. Here, we investigated whether endothelial Csk is involved in these effects. We found that the deficiency of Csk in endothelial cells augments SFK activation and the phosphorylation of VE-cadherin-Y685 but had no net effect on vascular leak formation. In contrast, the lack of endothelial Csk enhanced leukocyte adhesion and transmigration in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the silencing of Csk increased tyrosine phosphorylation of the SFK substrate cortactin. Importantly, the effects of Csk silencing on the increase in SFK activation, cortactin phosphorylation, and neutrophil diapedesis were all dependent on Y685 of VE-cadherin. Deletion of cortactin, in turn, erased the supporting effect of Csk silencing on leukocyte transmigration. We have previously shown that leukocyte transmigration is regulated by endothelial cortactin in an ICAM-1-dependent manner. In line with this, blocking of ICAM-1 erased the supporting effect of Csk silencing on leukocyte transmigration. Collectively, our results establish a negative feedback loop that depends on the phosphorylation of VE-cadherin-Y685, which recruits Csk, which in turn dampens the activation of SFK and cortactin and thereby the clustering of ICAM-1 and the extravasation of neutrophils.

Efficacy and safety of HERG channel agonists for treatment of Long QT Syndrome type 8

Abstract Background Substrate-based approach aimed at repolarization abbreviaton using mexiletine was shown to normalize the QTc interval and reduce the event rate in LQT3, and is now considered standard-of-care. Unfortunately, mexiletine is partially efficacious in other malignant forms of LQTS, such as LQT2 and LQT8. Novel compounds, such as HERG channel agonists, potentially capable of safely and efficaciously abbreviating the repolarization have not been tested in a clinically relevant model. Purpose To investigate the efficacy and safety of repolarization shortening using ICA-105574, the most potent compound belonging to the class of HERG channel agonists, in a clinically relevant, first-in-class porcine model of LQT8. Methods We used a combination of 12-lead ECG and electroanatomical mapping (EAM) to obtain data on the QTc interval, local activation time (LAT), local repolarization time (LRT) and its gradients, and reentrant vulnerability index (RVI), at baseline and after drug administration. We used LQT8 pigs of both genders weighing between 60 kg and 80 kg. All procedures were conducted following local regulations for the care and use of laboratory animals after authorization by relevant authorities. We used mixed effects linear regression model to assess the effect of ICA-105574 on the QTc interval and paired nested t-test to assess the effect of ICA-105574 on EAM-derived parameters. Results As a first step, we assessed the effects of ICA-105574 on the QTc interval. Compared to baseline, a single dose of 3 mg/kg of ICA-105574 resulted in an immediate and pronounced shortening of the QTc interval in all animals (∆QTc at 5 minutes post-injection: -28%, p&amp;lt;0.001). We then investigated repeated intravenous administrations of 3 mg/kg doses at 10-minute intervals for a total of 4 doses (i.e., overall drug dose of 12 mg/kg). Importantly, we did not observe excessive QTc shortening (∆QTc 6 mg/kg: -26%; ∆QTc 9 mg/kg: -26%; ∆QTc 12 mg/kg: -30%, p&amp;lt;0.001 for all) nor did we observe any proarrhythmic events in any of the animals studied. In a second phase of the study, we used EAM to assess the modifications in the arrhythmic substrate induced by ICA-105574. Importantly, ICA-105574 not only shortened the duration of ventricular repolarization (∆LRT: -21%, p=0.017), but also reduced the dispersion of ventricular repolarization (∆Max. LRT gradient: -69%, p=0.020). This, coupled with reduction of the activation delay as compared to baseline (∆LAT: -28%, p=0.072), had a net positive effect on the arrhythmic substrate, as evidenced by an amelioration by 30% of global RVI (∆RVIG,D: -32%, p=0.029). Conclusions In our LQT8 pig model, ICA-105574, a potent HERG channel agonist, safely and efficaciously ameliorated the arrhythmic substrate. These results suggest that HERG channel agonists, as a novel class of antiarrhythmics, could have clinical application as a novel substrate-based therapy for LQT8.Figure 1

PI3 kinase delta governs regulatory T-cell biology and thus confers protection against atherosclerosis progression in mice

Abstract Introduction and Purpose Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of arteries, critically involving innate and adaptive immune cells like macrophages as well as T and B lymphocytes. Macrophages are major drivers of disease through the ingestion of lipoproteins, foam cell formation, and secretion of inflammatory mediators. Although macrophages outnumber other leukocytes in atherosclerotic plaques, T and B cells can shape the course of disease by promoting or mitigating inflammatory responses. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta (PI3Kd) exerts a key role in the regulation of immune responses including activation, proliferation, differentiation, and effector function of lymphocytes. Therefore, PI3Kd may represent a promising target for the modulation of inflammatory diseases. Consequently, we aimed to analyse the role of PI3Kd during atherogenesis. Methods and Results To investigate the role of haematopoietic PI3Kd in atherosclerosis, bone marrow from PI3Kd-/- or PI3Kd+/+ mice was transplanted into Ldlr-/- mice. After a 6-weeks-challenge by high fat diet, PI3Kd-/- recipient Ldlr-/- mice displayed profoundly impaired CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell numbers, CD4+ T-cell activation, CD4+ effector T-cell differentiation, and proatherogenic CD4+ T-helper (Th) 1 responses in para-aortic lymph nodes and spleen compared with PI3Kd+/+ transplanted controls. Surprisingly, the net effect of PI3Kd deficiency was a substantial increase of aortic inflammation and atherosclerosis in Ldlr-/- mice. Whereas plaque content and functions of macrophages including foam cell formation, efferocytosis, and cytokine secretion remained largely unaffected, haematopoietic PI3Kd ablation strongly reduced mature B cells and serum immunoglobulins in Ldlr-/- mice. Importantly, PI3Kd deficiency severely impaired numbers, proliferation, immunosuppressive functions, and stability of regulatory CD4+ T cells (Tregs). Consequently, adoptive transfer of PI3Kd+/+ Tregs fully restrained the atherosclerotic plaque burden in PI3Kd-/- transplanted Ldlr-/- mice without affecting B-cell numbers and serum immunoglobulins, whereas transferred PI3Kd-/- Tregs failed to relieve atherosclerosis progression. Conclusions Here, we demonstrate that PI3Kd plays a crucial role in Tregs, Th1 cells, and B cells during atherogenesis. Lack of PI3Kd signalling specifically in atheroprotective Treg responses outplays its impact on B-cell and proatherogenic Th1 responses, thus leading to aggravated atherosclerosis. Hence, PI3Kd is a key regulator of Treg biology and thereby protects against atherosclerosis, suggesting that fine-tuning PI3Kd signalling may represent a promising target for Treg-directed therapy.

Linking fish bioturbation to life history in a eutrophic wetland: An analysis of fish contributions to internal nutrient loading

Abstract Bioturbation (sediment disturbance by animal actions) effects on nutrient cycling and nutrient levels in surface waters are difficult to quantify, in part because the diversity and magnitude of species‐specific influences are poorly understood. These influences may have consequences for the management of the trophic state of freshwater ecosystems. Fish cause bioturbation in freshwater and marine ecosystems by digging in benthic sediments, manipulating periphyton mats while searching for prey and scraping hard substrates while feeding. We used experimental enclosures (2.25 m2) to quantify bioturbation‐mediated phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) regeneration from sediment by three species of fish that differ in interactions with the benthos (largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides; tilapia, Oreochromis spp.; and sailfin catfish, Pterogoplichthys spp.) in shallow eutrophic wetlands in Southern Florida. Tilapia are omnivores that include detritus in their diet (winnowing or ingesting sediments) and dig nests in soft sediments year round, sailfin catfish actively burrow into substrate and consume detritus (digging and ingesting sediments), and largemouth bass are piscivores that do not routinely interact with the benthos when feeding but may dig nests in soft sediment in spawning season (January–April). We quantified the amount of suspended flocculent organic matter and changes in water column nutrients (total phosphorus [TP] and total nitrogen [TN]) in 2‐week trials for each species and estimated the portion of nutrient increases relative to fishless controls that could be attributed to bioturbation‐mediated internal nutrient loading through suspension of organic matter (as opposed to excretion or other sources of nutrient loading). Water column nutrient concentrations increased with increasing biomass for all species, but the bioturbation contribution differed by species. Largemouth bass increased water column nutrient concentrations (TP: 86% and TN: 5% relative to controls) but did not influence water column suspended particulate matter through bioturbation of sediment. Tilapia increased water column nutrients a modest amount (TP: 8%; TN: 15%), of which a small portion was attributed to bioturbation (c. 18% of TP). Sailfin catfish raised water column nutrients substantially (TP: 105%; TN: 46%) and up to 100% of the increased TP was attributed to bioturbation. Sailfin catfish also suppressed algal growth and TP accumulation on the sides of the enclosures and reduced nutrient concentrations of the flocculent sediments. Our results were consistent with our hypothesis that behaviour and foraging traits affect bioturbation contributions to nutrient loading. The results also demonstrated that species with similar net effects like largemouth bass and sailfin catfish, added nutrients via different mechanisms (i.e. excretion vs. bioturbation). Considering the feeding strategies and interactions with the substrate of common fish species may assist managers in meeting nutrient reduction goals for eutrophic wetlands and managed freshwater systems.

Research on the Configuration Path of Innovation Performance of Strategic Emerging Enterprises

As vehicles for implementing innovation-driven strategies, the strategic emerging industries are crucial for enhancing national competitiveness and sustainable development. Improving innovation performance in these industries has been a central focus of academic research. Notably, existing studies have primarily analyzed the net effects from a single perspective. This study examined 261 strategic emerging Chinese enterprises listed on the A-share market. Utilizing the Technology–Organization–Environment framework and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis, this study explores the impact paths and mechanisms of the coupling configurations of technology, organization, and environment to enhance enterprises’ innovation performance from a configuration perspective. We discovered that, first, no single antecedent condition is necessary to achieve high enterprise innovation performance. However, increasing the level of digital transformation and intensity of innovation investments universally results in high innovation performance. Second, the technological, organizational, and environmental conditions exhibit “multiple concurrency”, forming diverse configurations that drive enterprise innovation performance; hence, the driving paths of enterprise innovation performance are varied. Third, four schemes exist for achieving high innovation performance in strategic emerging enterprises: environment-driven under technological dominance, technology–organization driven type, organization-driven under technological–environmental dominance, and technology–organization–environment co-driven type. Exploring the synergistic paths driving innovation performance from a configuration perspective enhances our understanding of the complex interactions among multiple factors in improving such performance. This provides significant theoretical and practical implications for enterprises aiming to improve their innovation performance.

Root-Driven Soil Reduction in Wadden Sea Salt Marshes

The soil redox potential in wetlands such as peatlands or salt marshes exerts a strong control over microbial decomposition processes and consequently soil carbon cycling. Wetland plants can influence redox by supplying both terminal electron acceptors (i.e. oxygen) and electron donors (i.e. organic matter) to the soil system. However, quantitative insight into the importance of plant effects on wetland soil redox and associated plant traits are scarce. In a combined mesocosm and field study we investigated the impact of plants on soil reduction using IRIS (Indicator of Reduction in Soils) sticks. Vegetated plots were compared to non-vegetated plots along an elevational gradient in a salt marsh of the Wadden Sea and along an artificially created gradient in a tidal tank mesocosm experiment. Our findings from the mesocosm experiment demonstrated that vegetation both enhanced and suppressed soil reduction relative to non-vegetated control pots. The direction of the plant effect (i.e., net oxidizing or net reducing) was inversely correlated with background redox conditions. Insights from high-resolution oxygen profiling via planar optode imaging corroborated these findings. In the field study, vegetation consistently reduced the comparatively well-aerated Wadden Sea salt marsh soil. Reduction correlated positively with soil organic matter content and belowground biomass, indicating that greater availability of plant-derived electron donors, in the form of organic matter, increased soil reduction. Challenging the dominant paradigm that wetland plants primarily act as soil oxidizers, our study reveals their potential to exert a net reducing effect. The documented impact of these plant-induced changes in soil redox conditions suggests a previously overlooked role in shaping the stability of soil organic carbon stocks in wetland ecosystems with variable water tables.

Radiocarbon as a tracer of the fossil fraction of regional carbon monoxide emissions

Abstract Carbon monoxide (CO) is an atmospheric pollutant with a positive net warming effect on the climate. The magnitude of CO sources and the fraction of fossil vs biogenic sources are still uncertain and vary across emissions inventories. Measurements of radiocarbon (14C) in CO could potentially be used to investigate the sources of CO on a regional scale because fossil sources lack 14C and reduce the 14C/C ratio (Δ14C) of atmospheric CO more than biogenic sources. We use regional Lagrangian model simulations to investigate the utility of Δ14CO measurements for estimating the fossil fraction of CO emissions and evaluating bottom-up emissions estimates (United Kingdom Greenhouse Gas, UKGHG, and TNO Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, TNO) in London, UK. Due to the high Δ14CO in atmospheric CO from cosmogenic production, both fossil and biogenic CO emissions cause large reductions in Δ14CO regionally, with larger reductions for fossil than biogenic CO per ppb added. There is a strong seasonal variation in Δ14CO in background air and in the sensitivity of Δ14CO to fossil and biogenic emissions of CO. In the UK, the CO emissions estimate from TNO has a higher fraction from fossil fuels than UKGHG (72\% vs 67\%). This results in larger simulated decreases in Δ14C per ppb CO for TNO emissions. The simulated differences between UKGHG and TNO are likely to be easily detectable by current measurement precision, suggesting that Δ14CO measurements could be an effective tool to understand regional CO sources and assess bottom-up emissions estimates.

Understanding the drivers of consumers’ acceptance and use of service robots in the hotel industry

Purpose This study aims to discover factors and configurations that influence customers’ acceptance behaviors to investigate the current hospitality industry using service robots. Design/methodology/approach A mix of symmetrical and asymmetrical modeling methods was used for the data analysis. The symmetrical modeling was used to find the net effects, whereas asymmetrical modeling was adopted to find the combined configurations for hotel guests’ robot service acceptance behaviors. Findings The results revealed the significant effect of innovativeness, willingness to be a lighthouse customer, personal norms and concern about service robot performance on acceptance behaviors. In addition, the complex solution models using characteristics of tech-forward consumers, norms and attitude and uncertainty and concern were found. Practical implications The study shows directions to hotel marketers, to help them make customers adopt service robots. Originality/value The study explored customer service robot acceptance behaviors based on comprehensive theoretical backgrounds, including the technology acceptance model, theory of planned behavior, norm activation model and service robot acceptance model.

Long lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) intervention impact on use, misuse and challenges in malaria and lymphatic filariasis transmission

To assess the effectiveness and misuse status of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs), intervention, a study was conducted in areas of malaria and lymphatic filariasis endemicity from November 2021 to August 2022. A preliminary survey preceded a cross-sectional survey of the misuse of LLINs. Considering the outcome of the former, 57 households misusing LLINs were reported. Thirty (30) cohorts each from LLIN misusing and LLIN non misusing households served as permanent cohorts for mosquito collections (60 rooms in 60 households in 3 sentinel villages). The study also investigated the status of LLIN usage and non usage. Mosquitoes caught with Aspirators and Pyrethrum Knockdown (PKD) techniques were identified using standard morphological keys. Among those who used LLIN, 68.42% used it for other purposes than vector control while 31.58% didn’t utilize it for mosquito control. About 59.65% didn’t know the effect of using it for purposes other than malaria/LF control while 40.35% were familiar. Of 8,180 endophilic mosquitoes caught and assessed for parity, infection/infectivity status, 60.07% (4,914/8,180) and 39.93% (3,266/8,180) represented LLIN misusing and LLIN non-misusing catches respectively. Overall, insignificantly higher catches were made in LLIN misusing cohorts than LLIN non misusing cohorts (63.54% versus 36.45%, 58.89% versus 41.11%, 58.86% versus 41.18%) for 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively. Specifically, malaria/LF vector densities showed that Anopheles gambiae s.l. (82.53% versus 74.04%) was the highest followed by An. funestus s.l. (10.15% versus 12.19%) and Culex quinquefasciatus (6.82% versus 3.83%) while other species were rarely present. The physiological, infection (0.28% versus 0.49%) and infectivity (0.00% versus 0.00%) statuses with Wuchereria bancrofti were insignificant between the cohorts (p&gt;0.05). None of the Anopheles assessed for Plasmodium sporozoite were positive for both cohorts. The percentage level of LLIN household use was 43.33% while 41.03% slept under LLIN daily, 58.97% slept sometimes. Obstacles to LLIN use included hot/heat (56.86%), dislike (21.57%), lack of protection (11.86%) and ineffectiveness (9.80%). The role of significant misuse of LLIN was highlighted by the study. The results indicated the intensity of filariasis transmission by transmitting vectors was higher than that of malaria and re-emphasis the need to promote positive attitude towards the use of LLIN for control of the two diseases.

Mechanical power is associated with cardiac output and pulmonary blood flow in an experimental acute respiratory distress syndrome in pigs.

Despite being essential in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), mechanical ventilation (MV) may cause lung injury and hemodynamic instability. Mechanical power (MP) may describe the net injurious effects of MV, but whether it reflects the hemodynamic effects of MV is currently unclear. We hypothesized that MP is also associated with cardiac output (CO) and pulmonary blood flow (PBF). 24 anesthetized pigs with experimental acute lung injury were ventilated for 18h according to one of three strategies: 1) Open lung approach (OLA), 2) ARDS Network high-PEEP/FIO2 strategy (HighPEEP), or 3) low-PEEP/FIO2 strategy (LowPEEP). Total MP was assessed as the sum of energy dissipated to overcome airway resistance and energy temporarily stored in the elastic lung tissue per minute. The distribution of pulmonary perfusion was determined by positron emission tomography. Regional PBF and MP, assessed in three iso-gravitational regions of interest (ROI) with equal lung mass (ventral, middle, and dorsal ROI), were compared between groups. MP was higher in the LowPEEP than in the OLA group, while CO did not differ between groups. After 18h, regional PBF did not differ between groups. During LowPEEP, regional MP was higher in the ventral ROI compared to OLA and HighPEEP groups (2.5 ± 0.3 vs. 1.4 ± 0.4 and 1.6 ± 0.3J/min, respectively, P < 0.001 each), and higher in the middle ROI compared to the OLA group (2.5 ± 0.4 vs. 1.6 ± 0.5J/min, P = 0.04). MP in the dorsal ROI did not differ between groups (1.4 ± 0.9 vs. 1.4 ± 0.5 vs. 1.3 ± 0.8J/min, P = 0.916). Total MP was independently associated with CO [0.34 (0.09, 0.59), P = 0.020]. Regional MP was positively associated with PBF irrespective of the regions [0.52 (0.14, 0.76), P = 0.01; 0.49 (0.10, 0.74), P = 0.016; 0.64 (0.32, 0.83), P = 0.001 for ventral, middle, and dorsal ROI, respectively]. Subgroup analysis revealed a significant association of MP and CO only in the OLA group as well as a significant association between MP with regional PBF only in the HighPEEP group. In this model of acute lung injury in pigs ventilated with either open lung approach, high, or low PEEP tables recommended by the ARDS network, MP correlated positively with CO and regional PBF, whereby these clinically relevant lung-protective ventilation strategies influenced the associations.

GEOMECHANICAL MODELING OF RESERVOIR DYNAMICS ASSOCIATED WITH SHALLOW INJECTION AND PRODUCTION IN THE DELAWARE BASIN

The Permian Basin is an area of active hydrocarbon production and saltwater disposal, as well as associated induced seismicity and other geomechanical responses that threaten the surface environment. Among the important but not yet fully answered questions are: (i) what are the temporal and spatial changes in stress and pore pressure in response to fluid injection and production, and (ii) how do these changes relate to slip on pre-existing faults and surface deformation? We simulate stress and pore pressure responses to saltwater injection in the Delaware Mountain Group and production from the Wolfcamp and Bone Spring Formations with the aid of 2D geomechanical simulations that capture key mechanical stratigraphic units and representative faults. Primary loading consists of localized pore pressure changes that represent fluid injection into the Delaware Mountain Group and production from the lowermost portion of the Bone Spring Formation, the entire Wolfcamp A Formation, and the uppermost portion of the Wolfcamp B Formation. Injection leads to pore pressure increase, vertical extension, reduction in mean stress, and increase in differential stress in the Delaware Mountain Group. Production leads to decrease in pore pressure, vertical contraction, increase in mean stress, and increase in differential stress in the Bone Spring and Wolfcamp A and B Formations. The net effect of injection and production in our generalized simulations is normal faulting slip on faults that are relatively shallow in the subsurface, similar to faults that are known to have produced seismogenic rupture. The combination of injection and production reproduces a spatially-variant trend in uplift and subsidence, consistent with regional patterns measured in the study area via InSAR analysis. The modeled scenarios with shallow injection and/or production caused only small (lt;0.2 MPa) stress perturbations to propagate downward to basement, which would be unlikely to cause instability of deep-seated seismogenic faults.

The impact of long-term care insurance on healthcare utilization and expenditures among middle-aged and older Chinese adults: a quasi-experiment study

BackgroundLong-term care insurance (LTCI) is essential to alleviate the challenges of rapid aging. Research on LTCI in developing countries is limited and conclusions remain controversial. This study aims to empirically evaluate how the LTCI pilot in selected cities influences healthcare utilization and expenditures among middle-aged and older Chinese adults.MethodsData was from 2013, 2015, and 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. 167 LTCI and 8225 non-LTCI group participants were identified. Propensity score matching difference-in-difference method was used to evaluate the net effect of LTCI. The robustness of the findings was tested using a placebo test.ResultsIn the pilot cities, around 17.8% of the population had LTCI coverage, with approximately 59.9% participating in urban employee medical insurance and 81.4% being urban residents. LTCI significantly reduced the monthly out-of-pocket outpatient expenditure by 313.764 yuan (P < 0.05), but had no significant effects on the inpatient utilization and expenditure. Further analysis of vulnerable subgroup revealed that LTCI decreased monthly outpatient visits frequency, total outpatient expenditure, and out-of-pocket outpatient expenditure by 0.523 times, 643.500 yuan, and 302.367 yuan, respectively (P < 0.05). Robustness tests confirmed the stability of these results.ConclusionsThe LTCI coverage rate has remained low. While LTCI has contributed to reducing outpatient utilization and expenditure, its impact on controlling inpatient-related outcomes is limited. It is recommended to broaden LTCI coverage beyond existing participants to encompass more vulnerable populations, and improve awareness and quality of LTCI services to achieve a significant effect on inpatient care.